Judges 18:17 - The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Judges 18:17" mean?
This verse, Judges 18:17, is part of the story of the tribe of Dan seeking a new territory to settle in. It describes the tribe's less-than-scrupulous methods to acquire religious artifacts from a peaceful household:
"The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image..." These five men had previously scouted out the land of Laish and found a vulnerable, prosperous community. They knew of a man named Micah who had his own private religious shrine, complete with:
Engraved image: A carved idol, likely of a deity.
Ephod: A priestly garment, potentially used for divination.
Teraphim: Household idols or images, often associated with ancestor worship or used for divination.
Molten image: A metal statue, again, likely representing a deity.
The Danites brazenly stole these religious items. This act signifies a disregard for Micah's property and his personal religious practices. It also highlights the tribe's willingness to take what they wanted without considering ethical or moral implications.
"...and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war." The tribe of Dan was a relatively large group, as 600 armed men represented a significant force. They accompanied the spies, ready to defend their actions and ensure the theft went smoothly. The priest mentioned was likely the priest that Micah had hired. The priest knew the strength of the Danites so he would have been unlikely to act in resistance.
In summary, the verse depicts the Danites taking advantage of a vulnerable family by stealing their religious artifacts. They were backed up by a sizable, armed force, which would deter anyone from trying to intervene. This highlights the Danites' aggressive and opportunistic approach to acquiring new land and establishing their territory.
The verse is significant for a few reasons:
1. Religious Syncretism and Corruption: It showcases the mingling of true worship with idolatry. The fact that Micah had these items alongside an ephod suggests a syncretistic religious practice, and the Danites' willingness to steal these objects shows a disregard for the true worship of God.
2. Moral Decay: The story as a whole reflects a period of moral and spiritual decline in Israel, where individuals and tribes acted according to their own desires rather than according to God's law.
3. Impact on the Tribe of Dan: This act foreshadows the Danites' eventual abandonment of their assigned territory and their adoption of idolatrous practices. The stolen religious artifacts became central to their worship in their new settlement, further distancing them from God.
In conclusion, Judges 18:17 is a key verse in understanding the Danites' character and their role in the larger narrative of the book of Judges, highlighting a time of moral decline and religious corruption in Israel.
Judges 18:17 - The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
What does "Judges 18:17" mean?
This verse, Judges 18:17, is part of the story of the tribe of Dan seeking a new territory to settle in. It describes the tribe's less-than-scrupulous methods to acquire religious artifacts from a peaceful household:
"The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image..." These five men had previously scouted out the land of Laish and found a vulnerable, prosperous community. They knew of a man named Micah who had his own private religious shrine, complete with:
Engraved image: A carved idol, likely of a deity.
Ephod: A priestly garment, potentially used for divination.
Teraphim: Household idols or images, often associated with ancestor worship or used for divination.
Molten image: A metal statue, again, likely representing a deity.
The Danites brazenly stole these religious items. This act signifies a disregard for Micah's property and his personal religious practices. It also highlights the tribe's willingness to take what they wanted without considering ethical or moral implications.
"...and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war." The tribe of Dan was a relatively large group, as 600 armed men represented a significant force. They accompanied the spies, ready to defend their actions and ensure the theft went smoothly. The priest mentioned was likely the priest that Micah had hired. The priest knew the strength of the Danites so he would have been unlikely to act in resistance.
In summary, the verse depicts the Danites taking advantage of a vulnerable family by stealing their religious artifacts. They were backed up by a sizable, armed force, which would deter anyone from trying to intervene. This highlights the Danites' aggressive and opportunistic approach to acquiring new land and establishing their territory.
The verse is significant for a few reasons:
1. Religious Syncretism and Corruption: It showcases the mingling of true worship with idolatry. The fact that Micah had these items alongside an ephod suggests a syncretistic religious practice, and the Danites' willingness to steal these objects shows a disregard for the true worship of God.
2. Moral Decay: The story as a whole reflects a period of moral and spiritual decline in Israel, where individuals and tribes acted according to their own desires rather than according to God's law.
3. Impact on the Tribe of Dan: This act foreshadows the Danites' eventual abandonment of their assigned territory and their adoption of idolatrous practices. The stolen religious artifacts became central to their worship in their new settlement, further distancing them from God.
In conclusion, Judges 18:17 is a key verse in understanding the Danites' character and their role in the larger narrative of the book of Judges, highlighting a time of moral decline and religious corruption in Israel.